Read the Bible

I, the Lord, hear screams
of terror,
    and there is no peace.<
⁶ Can men give birth?
Then why do I see them
    looking so pale
and clutching their stomachs
    like women in labor?
⁷ My people, soon you will suffer
worse than ever before,
    but I will save you.

⁸ Now you are slaves
    of other nations,
but I will break the chains
and smash the yokes^[c]
    that keep you in slavery.
⁹ Then you will be my servants,
and I will choose a king for you
    from the family of David.

¹⁰ Israel,^[d] you belong to me,
    so don't be afraid.
You deserved to be punished;
that's why I scattered you
    in distant nations.
But I am with you,
and someday I will destroy
    those nations.
¹¹ Then I will bring you
and your descendants
    back to your land,
where I will protect you
    and give you peace.
Then your fears will be gone.
    I, the Lord, have spoken.

My people, you are wounded
    and near death.
¹³ You are accused of a crime
    with no one to defend you,
and you are covered with sores
    that no medicine can cure.
¹⁴ Your friends have forgotten you;
    they don't care anymore.
Even I have acted like an enemy.
And because your sins
    are horrible and countless,
I will be cruel
    as I punish you.
¹⁵ So don't bother to cry out
    for relief from your pain.

¹⁶ But if your enemies try to rob
    or destroy you,
I will rob and destroy them,
and they will be led as captives
    to foreign lands.
¹⁷ No one wants you as a friend
    or cares what happens to you.
But I will heal your injuries,
    and you will get well.

Israel, I will be kind to you
    and let you come home.
Jerusalem now lies in ruins,
but you will rebuild it,
    complete with a new palace.^[e]
19 Other nations will respect
    and honor you.
Your homes will be filled
    with children,
and you will celebrate,
    singing praises to me.

²⁰ It will be just like old times.
Your nation will worship me,
    and I will punish anyone
    who abuses you.
²¹ One of your own people
    will become your ruler.
And when I invite him
    to come near me
at the place of worship,
    he will do so.
No one would dare to come near
    without being invited.
²² You will be my people,
and I will be your God.
    I, the Lord, have spoken.

²³ I am furious!
And like a violent storm
    I will strike those
    who do wrong.
²⁴ I won't calm down
until I have finished
    what I have decided to do.
Someday, you will understand
    what I mean.